Sukhoi Fighter Starting Flight Tests

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seesul

Senior Master Sergeant
The prototype of Sukhoi's fifth-generation fighter, known as PAK-FA or T-50, has started taxi trials with an aim to make first flight early in January, industry sources say.

First taxi trials were successfully performed at Sukhoi's Komsomol-on-Amur KnAAPO manufacturing facility, where prototypes are being built. The PAK-FA development is still classified, so images of the stealthy fighter are expected to appear only after the first flight.

Earlier this month deputy prime-minister Sergei Ivanov also confirmed to media that flight trials of the T-50 were expected to be underway by the beginning of January.
Sukhoi Fighter Starting Flight Tests | AVIATION WEEK
 
Roman you beet me to it. I was about to start a thread on the same topic...
Never mind, here are couple of photos of T-50 on take off to its maiden flight which took place today. As I understood it's planed that this aircraft should enter service by 2015.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPHzCqSJ5xY
 

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Damn
we can't send Clint Eastwood again, they'll recognise him...

Edit: I know zippo about stealth but aren't those intakes a little boxy?
 
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Official announcement from Sukhoi regarding today's test flight:

 

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A little bit surprised at what appears to be conventional exhaust nozzles...those articulated turkey feathers are a major concern for stealth design.
 
A little bit surprised at what appears to be conventional exhaust nozzles...those articulated turkey feathers are a major concern for stealth design.
I'm not going to pretend I got those specifics but the back end did look a bit 'ordinary'
What about those intakes, are they a bit boxy or am I imagining it?

Anyone hazard a guess as to how able the electronics suite is likely to be?
 
On the face of it yes, twoeagles, but the 3d TVC nozzle of the T-50 (as opposed top the 2d alternative favoured by the US) allows for the use of smaller tail surfaces which reduces signature. These are also prototype nozzles and further refinement is naturally in the pipelin.

The intake design is very close to the F-22 and is one area I might call copy, however as the simple box design of the F-22 has been proven to be the best for stealth and efficiency, why wouldn't you

I think the top view looks quite dramatic.

Tomo, do you think Sukhoi don't know their stuff? I think that Lockheed will be impressed, and a little concerned. Remember, thuis is a first prototype. Look how feeble the YF-22 looked compared to the production version. It looked like a child had drawn it
 
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Looks like a Draken from the top.

But very similar to. The F-23...talk about imitation being best form of flattery.

Maybe the Soviets sacrificied a little stealth for some real world cost saving or usability.

But it does look very cool.
 

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